BEING Bexley’s 71st mayor will be a family affair for Councillor Val Clark.

The councillor for Falconwood and Welling was elected mayor at Bexley Council’s annual meeting last week.

Her son Jason will be her escort and his son Daniel, 14, has inspired her choice of mayoral appeal.

Her second grandson Jaimie eight, with mum Karen, is looking forward to attending mayoral engagements.

Cllr Clark was elected to represent Christchurch ward in 1990, before moving to her current ward in 2002.

A businesswoman, she helped run several family businesses before opening her own driving school and eventually becoming a driving test examiner.

Cllr Clark also chaired the borough's police liasion committee and raised the the largest ever petition in Bexley containing 37,000 signatures, demanding more borough police officers.

Daniel, in remission from leukaemia, inspired her mayoral appeal The Cherished Times, which will be raising cash for EllenorLions Hospice and children and young people’s services.